Surgical Sock

Abstract

A sterile orthopaedic containment sock is described. The sock is made of a surgical polymer material, and is applied to a patient's foot prior to a surgery to isolate contaminants. The sock conforms to the patient's foot and may be packaged such that its application needs not incur contact between the patient's foot and the hand of the person applying the sock.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to surgical equipment and more particularly to a sock for patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. The sock isolates pathogens and contaminants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various surgical procedures require a patient's foot to be isolated for the purpose of minimising the risk of endogenous or self-infection stemming from pathogens (typically bacteria, virus or fungi) or contaminants that originate on the patient's feet. Various plastic wraps and bags are available for this purpose. One disadvantage of a plastic bag or wrap is that the sole of the patent's foot has little or no grip and thus slips easily when positioned on some surfaces. During some procedures it would be an advantage if the sole of the patent's foot were more stabile. It is also understood that excessive direct manual handling of a patent's foot immediately prior to a surgical procedure may require the surgeon to re-scrub, this being a time consuming procedure. New techniques of orthopaedic surgery also require the manual palpation of the ankle malleoli during the procedure. Current isolation devices are bulky and make such identification difficult and possibly inaccurate.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a sterile containment sock that is adapted to be applied by a person that is not the patient.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a containment sock that may be applied with no manual contact with a patient's foot.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sterile orthopaedic containment sock with a grip area located on the sole.

It is another object of the invention to provide an applicator for an orthopaedic containment sock.

In view of the objects, the invention provides an orthopaedic containment sock that cooperates with and is applied with a specially configured applicator.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the sock is fabricated from surgical latex and packaged in a sterile, rolled condition. The pre-rolled orthopaedic sock is installed onto the applicator in the package. During installation, the installer primarily handles the applicator. The applicator is hinged so that it can be removed after the sock is applied.

In other embodiments of the invention an orthopaedic sock is provided comprising a sterile surgical rubber sock having a sole with a non-slip surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an orthopaedic containment sock according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the sock depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2(a) is an elevation view of another embodiment of the sock;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a sock applicator adapted to work in conjunction with the device depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the device depicted in FIG. 3 in an open position;

FIG. 5 is a quarter-sectional view of an orthopaedic sock installed on an applicator; and

FIG. 6 & 7 are quarter-sectional views of a patient's foot onto which is being applied an orthopaedic containment sock according to the teachings of the present invention.

BEST MODE AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, an orthopaedic containment sock 10 comprises a surgical latex sock-like device. The precise composition of the rubber material is not critical it being understood that latex or nitrile rubber in a variety of thicknesses may be provided. The primary requirements of the rubber material are that it is comparable to surgical rubber gloves in its resistance to chemicals, solvents and puncture, and that it can be sterilized and packaged in a downwardly and outwardly rolled or folded condition.

The primary purpose of the sock 10 is to contain within it, agents of infection other contaminants that might be found on a patient's foot. Accordingly, the upper margin 11 of the sock, adjacent to the main opening 12, fits snugly around the calf portion of the wearer. In preferred embodiments, the sock is approximately ¾ calf height. In order to keep the sole 14 of the sock positioned on the patient's sole, the sock incorporates features that are conformal to the patient's foot. Thus, the sock incorporates an ankle region 15 conformal foot portion 16 and a toe 17.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sole 14 of the sock 10 preferably includes moulded in grip features 15. These features preferably cover the entire sole but may be provided in specific zones, as required. Grip features include raised bumps, lines or patterns that increase the friction between the sole and a surface on which it rests. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the sock 10 may be packaged such that an upper portion 21 of the sock is turned outwardly. The outward turning in this example refers to folding the upper portion 21 over a calf portion 22. The outward turning may also refer to rolling, as shown in later figures.

To apply a surgical sock 20 of this type to a patient's foot, the nurse or another person applying the sock inserts his or her gloved hand between the folded upper portion 21 and the calf portion 22, and pushes the folded portion 21 upwardly. In this way, there is no direct contact between the patient's bare foot or leg and the person applying the sock.

The surgical sock depicted in FIG. 2 (a) further comprises a reinforced toe 23 and a patterned sole 24 that prevents slippage. The reinforced toe 23 may be a thicker latex material which is stronger against perforations by toenails than the rest of the sock 20.

Although a sock of the type depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, and 2(a) may be applied without a special purpose applicator, the invention also proposes a special purpose applicator as depicted in FIGS. 3-7. The advantage of the applicator is that it eliminates the contact between the patient's foot and the person applying the sock 10. The applicator facilitates application of the sock because it is packaged together with and installed onto a sock in a sterile container, is used once and then disposed (but generally not recycled). The upper aspect or an inner rim of the upper margin of the sock may be ‘sealed’ with a sterile adhesive plastic strip that may be packaged with the ‘sterile surgical sock’.

As shown in FIGS. 3-7, the applicator 30 comprises a split-ring body 31. The body 31 comprises two generally “C” shaped sections 32, 33 that are joined together by a hinge 34. Each body half has a curved inner margin 35 and this inner margin is bordered by a raised peripheral rib 36. Each body half 31, 32 may also incorporate laterally extending grips 37 to facilitate handling of the applicator during sock application.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sock 10 is preferably packaged and stored with its upper margin 11 rolled and/or folded about itself. In particularly preferred embodiments, the rolled sock is installed on the applicator 30. When installed, the peripheral rib 36 of the applicator is positioned between the rolled upper margin and the body of the sock as shown in FIG. 5.

In order to install the sock, an appendage such as a foot is inserted into the main opening 51 defined by the rolled or folded edge 52. As shown in FIG. 6, the applicator must be large enough to receive the appendage. At this point, the applicator 30 can be manipulated by the handles 37 to urge the sock 10 into position.

As shown in FIG. 7, the rolled upper margin 52 gradually unrolls as the applicator 30 advances. Eventually the upper margin 52 unrolls completely and the sock is considered installed. At this point, the applicator is opened as shown in FIG. 4 and it is easily removed from the foot or other appendage.

While the present invention has been described with reference to particular details of construction, these should be understood as having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope of spirit or the invention.

Claims

1. An orthopaedic containment sock, comprising:

a sterile, surgical polymer sock-like device, further comprising a main opening that is defined by a snugly fitting upper margin;

an ankle region;

a conformal foot portion; and

a toe.

2. The sock of claim 1, wherein,

the sock can be sterilized and packaged with the upper margin being turned outwardly.

3. The sock of claim 2, wherein,

the upper margin is rolled outwardly.

4. The sock of claim 2, wherein,

the upper margin is folded outwardly.

5. The sock of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein,

the sock includes moulded-in grip features.

6. The sock of any of claim 1 to 5, wherein,

an inner rim of the upper margin of the sock is sealed with a sterile and waterproof adhesive plastic strip.

7. An applicator for an orthopaedic containment sock, comprising:

a split-ring body having two generally C-shaped sections, the sections being joined by a hinge, wherein each section comprises a curved inner margin.

8. The applicator of claim 7, wherein,

the curved inner margin is bordered by a raised peripheral rib.

9. The applicator of claim 7 or 8, wherein,

each C-shaped section further comprises one or more laterally extending grip.

10. The applicator of claim 7, 8, or 9, wherein,

the applicator is wide enough to receive an appendage, such as a foot.

11. An orthopaedic containment sock and an applicator for the sock, wherein:

the sock being a sterile, surgical polymer device, comprises a main opening defined by an upper margin;

the applicator comprises a split-ring body having two C-shaped halves, each half having a curved inner margin, wherein the applicator is wide enough to receive an appendage inserted into the main opening the sock.

12. The sock and the applicator of claim 11, wherein,

the upper margin is formed by folding an upper portion of the sock outwardly.

13. The sock and the applicator of claim 11, wherein,

wherein the upper margin is a rolled edge of the sock

14. The sock and the applicator of claim 13, wherein,

the curved inner margin is bordered by a raised peripheral rib, wherein the raised peripheral rib is positioned between the upper margin and the body of the sock.

15. The sock and applicator of any of claims 11 to 14, wherein,

the sock and applicator are packaged together in a sterile container.

16. The applicator in any of claims 11 to 15, wherein,

the two C-shaped halves are joined by a hinge, whereby the C-shaped halves can be pivoted apart.

17. The applicator in any of claims 11 to 16, wherein,

each C-shaped half further comprises one or more laterally extending grips.

18. The sock in any of claims 11 to 17, wherein,

the sock is made of latex.

19. The sock in any of claims 11 to 18, wherein,

the sock includes moulded-in grip features.

20. The sock in any of claim 11 to 19, wherein,

an inner rim of the upper margin of the sock is sealed with a sterile and waterproof adhesive strip.